Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 281 Children
Han Youxin has been a bit annoyed lately.

He had been hiding in Yong Kingdom for many years, always being careful, but he was betrayed by those two bastards, Pei Nian and Gu Jingnian. Now that his identity has been discovered by Yin Wanqing, he has been forced to become a double agent, making his already difficult life even more miserable.

However, he should not let his two "children" at home see his troubles.

His son is named Han Qia and his daughter is named Han Jia. They were switched at a young age and sent to Rui Kingdom for education, but in reality, they were taken hostage. Now, there are two extraordinary people beside him. They do not have any other abilities, and their lifespan is very short, only twenty or thirty years, but they can retain the appearance of children.

"father."

On that day, Han Youxin returned home, and Han Qia and Han Jia came to greet him, looking very filial and respectful, saying, "Today the kitchen made braised pork, Father's favorite dish."

"Okay, okay." Han Youxin forced a smile.

Just as they were about to go eat, Han Jia took two steps forward and whispered, "Gu Jingnian is in the study."

"Why is he here?" Han Youxin asked in surprise. "The gatekeeper didn't announce his arrival."

“He didn’t walk here,” Han Jia said. “He came via teleportation.”

As she spoke, a shrewdness beyond her years appeared on the little girl's face, and a hint of sarcasm flashed across her lips.

Han Youxin asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

He was asking Han Jia why she was in the study, since that's where she would see Gu Jingnian. Could it be that she suspected him and was searching for something? Also, how did she recognize Chuan Ying when she saw Gu Jingnian?

Han Jia said, "That day, when Father was talking to Marquis Wuding, I went in to serve tea and heard Marquis Wuding mention that Gu Jingnian had mastered the art of teleportation. I took note of it, and today when I passed by the pavilion, I saw a change on the screen wall, and I knew that someone had broken into the study."

That screen wall was another extraordinary treasure. It stood outside Han Youxin's study and could detect any changes inside the study when he left. That day, he used it to discover Shen Jichi's arrival in advance.

Han Youxin wanted to reprimand Han Jia and forbid her from going any further into the study, but he swallowed his words and instead said, "Thanks to your vigilance, I'll go and meet him."

After saying that, he went to his study alone.

Han Qia and Han Jia exchanged a glance, then quickly went to a room, opened a hidden compartment, and found a rather large piece of jade inside—a jade with a hole in it.

Before long, conversations could be heard coming from inside the jade aperture.

"Gu Jingnian, who gave you the right to come see me without permission?!"

Han Youxin's tone was stern, and Gu Jingnian did not respond for a long while.

Han Youxin then shouted again, "Furthermore, you've mastered the Shadow Transmission Technique, why didn't you inform me beforehand?!"

This is why Han Qia and Han Jia eavesdropped on Han Youxin's conversation. They didn't suspect Han Youxin, but rather believed that Han Youxin had failed to control Gu Jingnian.

After a while, Gu Jingnian finally spoke.

“I will hand over Womin and bring my sister and her daughter to me.”

Han Youxin asked in surprise, "You contacted Yingyao so quickly? She's not at Fujie Mountain."

Gu Jingnian said calmly, "That's just wishful thinking on your part. You know nothing about the Realm."

"Where is Womin?"

“Send the men I want to Jusse, and I will hand over the people of Womin to you.”

After that, the two discussed the details of exchanging hostages.

After hearing this, Han Qia and Han Jia put the jade into a hidden compartment and quickly went to the back room to instruct the kitchen to serve the food.

Just as the braised pork was served, Han Youxin arrived.

"Father, what did Gu Jingnian say?"

"He's almost finished with what Si Li instructed," Han Youxin said. "I need to go to Jusai City."

"We'll go with Dad."

"No need."

"Father, we will not be coming back this time. It will be time to exchange with them."

Upon hearing this, Han Youxin was taken aback.

Han Jia smiled and said, "Now that we're raised at home, our appearance doesn't attract attention. But once we're older, we won't be able to hide it anymore. It's time for Dad's family to reunite."

Han Youxin knew that if he brought his two children back to Yong, they would continue to be spies for Rui.

He still smiled and nodded cheerfully.

In addition, he also needed to contact Shen Jichi to inform him of Gu Jingnian's request.

--------

After settling everything, Gu Jingnian planned to leave Yongjing and head to Jusai City.

Apart from Zhang Xiaofang, whom he brought with him, now being Wei Yushi and no longer able to be taken away by him, he had no other attachments in Yongjing.

Before leaving, Gu Jingnian originally wanted to say goodbye to Wei Yushi, but in the end he held back.

Firstly, he couldn't have too much contact with Wei Li, lest Yin Yuhe and Shen Jichi become suspicious; secondly, since they were going to part ways anyway, seeing each other again would only add to his sorrow.

Several days later, before the delegation sent by Yong Kingdom to pay tribute to Rui Kingdom set off, Gu Jingnian set off first for Jusai City.

Since he had already made his plans, he didn't need to reveal his intention to rob the tribute too early; he could simply wait in Jusai City.

It was a pity for Lao Hei, Gao Changgan, and the others. They had finally returned to the Chengye Marquis's residence, but the few pieces of furniture they had bought were not yet finished, and they had to leave again. Before leaving, Qin'er sighed to Luoxia.

"Are we destined to live a life of constant homelessness?"

Luo Xia said, "My body is like duckweed, destined to wander."

Hearing this, Gao Changgan felt sad and couldn't say anything, only letting out an "Ah".

Gu Jingnian happened to pass by and overheard their conversation. He said, "Don't worry, we will soon be living in peace and prosperity."

"Really?"

Old Hei quickly cheered up again, but after thinking for a while, he said, "Anju (安居, a peaceful home) is good enough. Let's not have Leye (乐业, a prosperous career)?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Bo gave a speechless smile.

Gao Changgan, lacking discernment, saw Huo Bo smile and burst into laughter, actually enlivening the atmosphere.

And so the group left Yongjing.

As he soared into the sky, Gu Jingnian glanced back at the city and recalled what Qu Jizhi had said when he first arrived: that Yong Kingdom was a land of diverse customs and a paradise.

There is no paradise, only interests.

Driven by self-interest, even hostile states like Yong and Rui can negotiate peace. As for the fate of these people, they can only rely on their own protection.

With this realization, Gu Jingnian flew eastward without looking back.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a winged shadow on the ground. Not far away, a person stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky—it was Shen Jichi.

His brows furrowed in thought, and then he vanished from sight.

A moment later, Shen Jichi appeared outside the Yong Kingdom Palace.

He stood outside the palace walls made of obsidian, and soon Bian Jingzhong came out to greet him.

"The Marquis of Wuding has indeed arrived. Please come in."

"please."

Shen Jichi calmly stepped into the palace gate. The fact that the Yong Palace suppressed his supernatural abilities showed that this was his true form.

Arriving alone in Yong Kingdom, in such a dangerous place, he showed no fear whatsoever. After all, Yin Yu was eager to negotiate peace with Rui Kingdom and would not dare to deal with him.

Yin Yuhe met him in the front hall to show his respect for him.

Of course, this peace talk was somewhat humiliating for the Yong Kingdom, and the terms were kept secret. There were no other officials in the hall.

"The personnel your country needs have been prepared by my men, and they will soon be able to return east with Marquis Wuding."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Shen Jichi said. "However, I have another request."

Yin Yuhe was displeased, believing that Shen Jichi had already made an exorbitant demand this time, and now that he was going too far, he had reached the limit of his tolerance.

On second thought, he guessed that Shen Jichi's request at this time was probably related to Gu Jingnian.

He was determined to use one enemy to devour another, so he said, "Lord Wuding, please speak freely, as long as I can do it."

“This is a private matter for me,” Shen Jichi said. “I wish to take my daughter with me when I leave.”

Yin Yu was slightly taken aback.

He knew that Shen Jichi had a daughter named Shen Lingshu, who had been engaged to Gu Jingnian, but he had not received any information that Shen Lingshu was in Yong Kingdom.

"Your daughter is in Yong?" Yin Yuhe then asked, "Could it be that she came with Gu Jingnian?"

“That’s right,” Shen Jichi said. “Does Your Majesty allow me to take her away?”

"That is only natural," Yin Yuhe said. "Is there anything I can do to help you with?"

"Your Majesty's words are of the highest value, and your humble servant is deeply grateful."

Shen Jichi first thanked him for the gift, though his posture remained arrogant.

Then, he spoke, slowly saying another sentence.

“My daughter is Wei Yushi, the daughter of the Princess of Yue, who was bestowed the title of Princess Yilin by His Majesty.”

Upon hearing this, Yin Yuhe's expression instantly turned ugly.

Even with his imperial shrewdness, he couldn't suppress the gloom in his eyes.

He stared coldly at Shen Jichi, his hostility unconsciously radiating outwards.

Knowing that he was about to make Wei Li empress, Shen Jichi's sudden visit to discuss this matter was a provocation.

If he swallowed this insult, he would be even more unable to hold his head high in front of the Swiss.

However, facing the oppressive gaze of Yin Yuhe, Shen Jichi showed no sign of backing down.

Thus, the two men, both over fifty, stared at each other, vying for her affections and refusing to yield.

(End of this chapter)